My brain is already in check-out mode... I'm going to a wedding in San Antonio this weekend and I couldn't be happier to get away for a while. Especially when there's a party to be had and an open bar. I've spent the last couple of days bouncing between the canyon and Flagstaff working on getting everything I need.
Also, I find the Flagstaff Public Library the ideal place to study for my GREs (Sept 13th). I think I spend more time in the library studying now than I did the whole of college! It's funny how that happens. But I find the library comforting. It's quiet, well-lit, full of people and it smells like books. All in all, my kind of place.
The office here has been empty the past week and I haven't really seen anyone, aside from my old roommate who had to finish cleaning out her room. She scrubbed her toilet, then we went to El Tovar to get a drink. There's not much to do here that isn't hiking or drinking. Or reading, it would seem. The one perk to being in the boonies is that I go through books like I go through jars of peanut butter, boxes of girl scout cookies, or chocolate cake. I remember in school I always wanted more time to read, for fun that is. I finally have it.
And not having cable or internet helps, because I've finally been able to disconnect from this tech-obsession that keeps a hold on most Americans. I don't constantly check email or facebook, and I actually can unplug and go to sleep at night (unlike college where I would stay up til 4 watching netflix). Even though I'm bored out of my mind here, cable is a crutch. I would never leave my house or do anything if I had the option of watching Bridezilla marathons.
There's not much going in terms of canyon adventures lately. I can't hike because I can't put weight on my back yet (the friction might do damage to the newly formed skin), so I've been having indoor adventures: cleaning my house, doing my laundry, cooking dinner.
Showing posts with label bumming it. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bumming it. Show all posts
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Well That Should Be Interesting.
So here's the plan: leave York at 2am Saturday (tomorrow), get dropped off at 5am at the Ramada in Triangle, Va. Sleep. Eat. On Sunday, check out and go to training.
I have this inescapable fear of showing up for this training and sticking out like someone who didn't get the memo about the costume party being cancelled, so you show up in a playboy bunny outfit while everyone laughs. That may have been in a movie I saw.
I've been hitting the gym recently and am starting to wonder when it is exactly I got so out of shape. I might actually die in training, or if not in training, the Canyon itself. I've been considering putting up a "before" picture on here and then in six months, an "after" picture just to see the difference. I haven't been this chubby in a while... just in time to go hang out with the gung-ho outdoorsy types.
I don't know what the living conditions will be like... but I might actually start to miss my basement (despite the creepiness factor).
Adventures in Babysitting pt 2:
In the car, I am talking to Vin's mom as we're driving. Somehow the word "gay" comes up. This is how the convo went with Vin (he's 8).
me: "...and he didn't know he was gay at the time." (or something to that effect)
Vin under his breath, "You said a bad word."
me "what bad word?"
Vin "gay."
me "Vin, gay is never a bad word."
Vin "what does it mean?"
me "what do you think it means?"
Vin "like someone who's weird."
me "no, it means happy."
Vin "that's not what the kids at school say."
me "what do they say it is?"
Vin "you know... a hobo."
I have this inescapable fear of showing up for this training and sticking out like someone who didn't get the memo about the costume party being cancelled, so you show up in a playboy bunny outfit while everyone laughs. That may have been in a movie I saw.
I've been hitting the gym recently and am starting to wonder when it is exactly I got so out of shape. I might actually die in training, or if not in training, the Canyon itself. I've been considering putting up a "before" picture on here and then in six months, an "after" picture just to see the difference. I haven't been this chubby in a while... just in time to go hang out with the gung-ho outdoorsy types.
I don't know what the living conditions will be like... but I might actually start to miss my basement (despite the creepiness factor).
Adventures in Babysitting pt 2:
In the car, I am talking to Vin's mom as we're driving. Somehow the word "gay" comes up. This is how the convo went with Vin (he's 8).
me: "...and he didn't know he was gay at the time." (or something to that effect)
Vin under his breath, "You said a bad word."
me "what bad word?"
Vin "gay."
me "Vin, gay is never a bad word."
Vin "what does it mean?"
me "what do you think it means?"
Vin "like someone who's weird."
me "no, it means happy."
Vin "that's not what the kids at school say."
me "what do they say it is?"
Vin "you know... a hobo."
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Being a Bum, Professionally... Part 2
So a lot of you might be wondering how I am so successful at being a bum, professionally. Here are my three simple tips:
1. Hide your blow-up mattress in the basement of a friend's house, like so:
2. Make sure you have full access to the television (with cable, of course), the internet (router left of TV) and the Wii (under TV).
3. Spread all your junk out amongst the children's toys so it's camouflaged enough no one will care what a mess you are.
Follow these tips and the host may not even catch on you're living there. You'll just be an old, creepy person living in the basement who sometimes goes to watch the kids play in the streets.
I'm officially Boo Radley.
Adventures in babysitting: Today I spotted something on Sofia's shirt. Knowing she'd been running around outside I ask: Sofia, what is on your shirt? I start trying to wipe it off. She looks at me, laughs and says one word: Boogers!
1. Hide your blow-up mattress in the basement of a friend's house, like so:
2. Make sure you have full access to the television (with cable, of course), the internet (router left of TV) and the Wii (under TV).
3. Spread all your junk out amongst the children's toys so it's camouflaged enough no one will care what a mess you are.
Follow these tips and the host may not even catch on you're living there. You'll just be an old, creepy person living in the basement who sometimes goes to watch the kids play in the streets.
I'm officially Boo Radley.
Adventures in babysitting: Today I spotted something on Sofia's shirt. Knowing she'd been running around outside I ask: Sofia, what is on your shirt? I start trying to wipe it off. She looks at me, laughs and says one word: Boogers!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Being a Bum, Professionally
Having officially been homeless now for over a day, I'm starting to reflect on how good it was to have my own room, in my own apartment, with endless options for activities. Here, as I take up residence in a basement at a family friend's home, I find myself at a loss for something to do. I can feel my ass expanding as I do nothing but sit on the couch and watch MTV.
It also doesn't help I seem to have acquired a headache that I can't seem to shake, despite my overloading on ibuprofen. What worries me isn't so much the headache from hell as that I got it at Hershey Park (or as I like to call it, Fat Girl Heaven) from riding rides. In my head, my still young body could handle the more advanced rides, but physically, my twenty-something body revolted.
(The entrance to Fat Girl Heaven)
The best part of going to the park was that there happened to be no one there but school groups (who were gone by 4PM), meaning Cartmanland came to life. All the rides, no wait. Who wouldn't take advantage of this? You could stay on and ride as many rides as many times as you want. And, you know, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Felts and I enjoyed this freedom for all of about two hours, until Hershey Park went from being a fun day in the sun to an extreme endurance challenge. Heads pounding, clothing soaked with sweat, bodies overheating from the direct sunlight our general paleness was unused to, each step became excruciating. Felts wrestled with her own queasiness as I fought down my motion sickness.
We eventually caved in to going on the plunge water ride that would leave you completely soaked. As we entered the queue, the overwhelming aroma of feet, sweat, and dirty water took over us. There was no safe way to face. Breathing became labored. Adding to this stench, I removed my own shoes (Felts was just ecstatic as I later shoved these into her hands to place on the other side of the ride). It would all be worth it, I kept telling myself. The freezing water would revive us and we wouldn't be playing the game of "don't pass out" survivor.
Just as predicted, the freezing downpour we got at the bottom was enough to bring us both back from the edge on this sticky, sunny day. Having the park to ourselves was amazing--never before have I been able to walk up to rides, but also have the choice of which seat I wanted. The abuse of this power ultimately led to my downfall (massive migraine). I think my brain might actually be bleeding at this point.
And so we wandered, like two castaways in Lost, hair drenched and tousled, backpack on, and sunburnt.
At 8, the park closed, Felts and I hit the road, and a sense of accomplishment washed over me. It had been my last day living in State College and we really celebrated hard (if like children). The shower I took when I got home was the best feeling in the world, I could taste the salt washing off of me.
The next morning, I got up at 5:30 and drove to York, where I presently reside. Week one of homelessness. I don't know how I'm going to survive. Arizona looms on the horizon and every day I feel a little less prepared. This transition is taking too long!
It also doesn't help I seem to have acquired a headache that I can't seem to shake, despite my overloading on ibuprofen. What worries me isn't so much the headache from hell as that I got it at Hershey Park (or as I like to call it, Fat Girl Heaven) from riding rides. In my head, my still young body could handle the more advanced rides, but physically, my twenty-something body revolted.
(The entrance to Fat Girl Heaven)
The best part of going to the park was that there happened to be no one there but school groups (who were gone by 4PM), meaning Cartmanland came to life. All the rides, no wait. Who wouldn't take advantage of this? You could stay on and ride as many rides as many times as you want. And, you know, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Felts and I enjoyed this freedom for all of about two hours, until Hershey Park went from being a fun day in the sun to an extreme endurance challenge. Heads pounding, clothing soaked with sweat, bodies overheating from the direct sunlight our general paleness was unused to, each step became excruciating. Felts wrestled with her own queasiness as I fought down my motion sickness.
We eventually caved in to going on the plunge water ride that would leave you completely soaked. As we entered the queue, the overwhelming aroma of feet, sweat, and dirty water took over us. There was no safe way to face. Breathing became labored. Adding to this stench, I removed my own shoes (Felts was just ecstatic as I later shoved these into her hands to place on the other side of the ride). It would all be worth it, I kept telling myself. The freezing water would revive us and we wouldn't be playing the game of "don't pass out" survivor.
Just as predicted, the freezing downpour we got at the bottom was enough to bring us both back from the edge on this sticky, sunny day. Having the park to ourselves was amazing--never before have I been able to walk up to rides, but also have the choice of which seat I wanted. The abuse of this power ultimately led to my downfall (massive migraine). I think my brain might actually be bleeding at this point.
And so we wandered, like two castaways in Lost, hair drenched and tousled, backpack on, and sunburnt.
At 8, the park closed, Felts and I hit the road, and a sense of accomplishment washed over me. It had been my last day living in State College and we really celebrated hard (if like children). The shower I took when I got home was the best feeling in the world, I could taste the salt washing off of me.
The next morning, I got up at 5:30 and drove to York, where I presently reside. Week one of homelessness. I don't know how I'm going to survive. Arizona looms on the horizon and every day I feel a little less prepared. This transition is taking too long!
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